On land, power crews were attempting to restore electricity to thousands of homes in the south and south-west after the latest storm's near-hurricane winds caused widespread blackouts.

Some of the worst affected areas were rural parts of Kerry and Cork with more than 1,400 homes and businesses in the Macroom area left without electricity and about 1,000 in the Rathmore area at the counties' border.

Struggle: A man and his son try to walk on the beach at Broad Haven, Wales (Image: REUTERS)

Downpours: A jogger as she braves the stormy seafront at Southsea, Portsmouth (Image: ben Mitchell/PA)

ESB Networks had reports of power outages in the wake of the storm from more than two dozens locations.

At its overnight peak along the south coast, Imogen - the ninth winter Atlantic storm - was bringing hurricane force winds to Sherkin Island off Cork, the Fastnet Rock and the Kinsale gas rigs.

Waves at least 30 feet high were also recorded by Met Eireann's weather buoys in the Atlantic.

Fastnet lighthouse recorded some of the highest winds including sustained hurricane force speeds and gusts of up to 196km/h or 121mph.

Met Eireann had forecast that westerly winds would hit average speeds of 65 to 75km/h with gusts of 100 to 130km/h, and conditions would be strongest along the coast and on hills.

At the height of the blackouts about 5,000 homes and businesses were left without power in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford.

"We are hoping to get everyone back by today," an ESB spokeswoman said.

In the aftermath of the storm road users were being warned of fallen trees and power lines while people in coastal areas were being warned of the dangers of extreme wave heights of up to 45 feet in some parts of the south coast.